CICIL Connection Center Operations

Project Description

Central Iowa Center for Independent Living (CICIL) needs your help to raise $75,000 to support operations for our new home, CICIL Connection Center. CICIL is one of six 501(c)3 nonprofit Centers for Independent Living in the state of Iowa designed and operated by people with disabilities. In October 2022, CICIL opened our Connection Center: a peer support drop-in center where people with disabilities can connect with their peers while working toward goals that maximize independence. CICIL Connection Center has eliminated access barriers and is home to a variety of free support groups, peer-led classes, and recreational activities geared toward adults with disabilities regardless of income, disability severity, insurance, and other limiting eligibility barriers. Our physical space includes an area with computers for resume development and employment seeking, a full kitchen to use for independent living skills such as how to prepare and clean up after a healthy meal, an accessible fitness room, recreation room, and a community space for connecting with others. Moving all our operations to the Connection Center has allowed us to serve more people than ever - our first year data shows 24% more to be exact and we keep growing. However, moving also has been very costly and our budget has been stretched incredibly thin. We need your help to keep up this incredible work! Funds will support: installation of a washer and dryer into our space to teach how to do laundry as part of our independent living skills program, accessible fitness equipment, technology to improve accessibility and drop-in use, and our programming. No other organization in our community can offer the level of services to anyone with a disability for free like CICIL. Support us in bridging the gap in services for Central Iowans with disabilities.